konichi wa from Japan

First topic message reminder :

Hey all. 
Just touching base from Japan. 
I'm blown away by how different it is from my preconceived perception of what it would be like.  
In three days I have seen a grand total of three motorbikes being riden. I thought they would be everywhere.  
I don't know where everyone is. 
We stayed at Narita, Tokyo for the first two nights and moved on to Utsunomiya today, in order to be near the track for the Motogp. 
There are 32 million in the greater Tokyo area, but I'm buggered if I know where they're hiding.  
We visited a shopping mall, trying to find a cd or two for the car(Japanese radio isn't big on playing music), & were amazed at how few people were there. Charlestown square (local mall in Newcastle, Aus) would scare the pants off the Japanese by comparison.  
Speed limit on major roads is 50km/h, 40 in town. So it takes quite some time to get places. Haven't been on a freeway yet. We might be able to push it up to 80k. Lol
Current hotel is 32km from the track and gps says 55min. 
Can't understand what's on the tv so wife and I have been watching Japanese porn since we got here . I'm knackered. Good times. 

What time do you get into Utsunomiya?  
How many of you are there, mate?

Sorry bosco. Forgot that there was thousands of people showing up to the event. The bus to and from the event was shit to say the least, they couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery.

Although the rain set in the racing was awesome. Views aren't anywhere as good as at Malaysia. Two hours in a line waiting for a bus that takes another hour and a half and missing our train put a damper on the day.

Roll on the superbikes in 2016

What a pity about the poor organisation for you guys in the land of efficiency

We often centre on negative stuff around big events but this points out just how well run Motogp at PI is.

The Japanese once locked into a way of doing something no matter how stupid it seems will not budge. They are like robots. We found some one to translate for us and we made sure they understood we were really annoyed. They waited upwards of 30 minutes a bus for reserved seated people to rock up to the bus before anyone in the big long line of us were allowed on. Nowhere was it started there was a way to reserve a ticket and this was the only cheapish way of getting back to the train station. Very frustrating to say the least. If they had someone selling beer on the bus it would have been better. Oh and a toilet on the bus, I was ready to explode at the end of it.

#Tag wrote:What a pity about the poor organisation for you guys in the land of efficiency

We often centre on negative stuff around big events but this points out just how well run Motogp at PI is.

You've nailed it there, Tag. 
Phillip Island has been the best, by far. Not only the organisation, but the amount of on and off track entertainment. 
The authorities turn single lane two way traffic roads into two lane one way, to allow the mass exodus of traffic. 
The Japanese wouldn't dream of altering the cycle of two sets of traffic lights, near the track entrance, which were letting half a dozen cars through at a time. Resulting in a queue miles long.

reddog wrote:The Japanese once locked into a way of doing something no matter how stupid it seems will not budge. They are like robots. We found some one to translate for us and we made sure they understood we were really annoyed. They waited upwards of 30 minutes a bus for reserved seated people to rock up to the bus before anyone in the big long line of us were allowed on. Nowhere was it started there was a way to reserve a ticket and this was the only cheapish way of getting back to the train station. Very frustrating to say the least. If they had someone selling beer on the bus it would have been better. Oh and a toilet on the bus, I was ready to explode at the end of it.

I was trying to get in touch with you, Reddog. 
My research for our trip highlighted the fact that bus transport to the track was bad. That was the reason for hiring the car. 
When I learnt that you were getting into Utsonomiya, I was hoping to pick you up. 

It is quite amazing to see, the way that the Japanese won't bend the rules for fear of bringing dishonour upon themselves and their family name.

Our Internet dongle died on the way to the track and then it came good once we arrived at motegi. Thanks for thinking of us Bosco. I'm heading you about the traffic light scenario, it seemed utterly stupid to allow them to operate as per normal. If we can somehow give feedback to motogp about the poor bus service then hopefully it may make someone's journey in the following years a more pleasant experience. Hope you guys still enjoyed the day Bosco.

Me not knowing anything about where the track is, nor have I done any research into it,
But how far away is the track from civilization?

I`m not trying to compare the situation here, but when I went to P.I , I was lucky enough, to have known someone, that lived 2km`s from the track, and just walked to it. If I didn`t know someone, I would have tried to get accommodation close to it anyway, and then work the rest of my holiday around that key point of my holiday.

Was that at all possible to do in Japan, or is it just too far away, and inconvenient?

reddog wrote:Our Internet dongle died on the way to the track and then it came good once we arrived at motegi. Thanks for thinking of us Bosco. I'm heading you about the traffic light scenario, it seemed utterly stupid to allow them to operate as per normal. If we can somehow give feedback to motogp about the poor bus service then hopefully it may make someone's journey in the following years a more pleasant experience. Hope you guys still enjoyed the day Bosco.

Yes mate. Had a good day at the races. 
We got out via Central Motegi, avoiding the traffic, thanks to some awesome gps navigation.  
With a few tweaks, the organisers could make it a whole lot better experience.  
But somehow, I don't think it's that big of an event for Japan. I watched two news broadcast that night and not one mentioned the races.

mtbeerwah wrote:Me not knowing anything about where the track is, nor have I done any research into it,
But how far away is the track from civilization?

I`m not trying to compare the situation here, but when I went to P.I , I was lucky enough, to have known someone, that lived 2km`s from the track, and just walked to it. If I didn`t know someone, I would have tried to get accommodation close to it anyway, and then work the rest of my holiday around that key point of my holiday.

Was that at all possible to do in Japan, or is it just too far away, and inconvenient?

It's incredibly easy to get to the track. 
Stay in Utsunomiya, a big city 34km away.  Take route 4 out of the city, literally turn right out of our hotel and follow your nose. Turn right for the track and 2km up the road. 
Car hire cost me $75/day with full insurance.  It was a Prius, so used $21 Aus in fuel for 4 days of driving.  
You could always stay at the track hotel with the riders if you're willing to pay Au $280 / night. Lol

I highly recommend visiting Japan if it's on your bucket list.  It's not half as daunting as I imagined. 
The Gp was good but not half the experience of PI.

Public transport to the track is near enough to non existent, so car hire is the way to go.
Hotels are way cheaper than Aus. We're paying Au$60-75 / night, even in Tokyo, and that includes breakfast.

When it comes to bucket lists, in terms of countries or cities to visit, my list is very small.
I could count on one hand. But Japan is on it.

I was always under the impression, that it was an expensive place to visit?

I find them an intriguing and bizarre culture, with, again from what I understand, still some sort of respect toward others, that is lost in the world these days. 

Did you find the people in general to be like this, or have they succumb to the western way?

I was under the same impression, that it would be extremely expensive.  
It's not like Thailand where you can live like royalty, but it's cheaper than Aus that's for sure.  
I bought a litre of Yakult, thinking it was milk, for Au $2. Whereas we pay $7 for six tiny bottles in Aus. 
Au$2.90 bought us an hour long bus tour, and that's only because we were honest enough to pay as you get off the bus. 
Hotels are cheaper. 
Dinner with more food than you can eat and two litres of beer was Au $42. 
I could go on.  
Fuel is around Au $1.50 for regular.  
The people are still very honorable.  Very. I have heard stories of Americans leaving tips and being chased down the street because they had left their money behind.  
No graffiti, garbage, scumbags anywhere.  
If you smoke, you must respect others and only smoke next to the designated ash trays or in smoking booths. No walking along the street smoking. And yet you may be eating dinner in a restaurant and the table next to you will be a smoking table. Weird. 
It may be different when we hit Tokyo, but so far I have nothing but praise for the people and their culture.  
In fact, I feel a little ashamed of Australia and it's graffiti and garbage.

Smoking is the same in Tokyo mate. It's weird how drinking and eating whilst walking is not cool, but you can street drink to your hearts content as long as you are not publicly drunk. It is very safe BTW. Again no scum bags trying to mug you or to rip you off. I feel safe here with my wife and six year old son. I have been a little lost though when I didn't have any internet access. The cabs and everyone else use the internet and GPS due to no street names

reddog wrote:Smoking is the same in Tokyo mate. It's weird how drinking and eating whilst walking is not cool, but you can street drink to your hearts content as long as you are not publicly drunk. It is very safe BTW. Again no scum bags trying to mug you or to rip you off. I feel safe here with my wife and six year old son. I have been a little list though when I didn't have any internet access. The cabs and everyone else need GPS due to no street names

Being a tech savvy country, I thought the net would be everywhere.

NO STREET NAMES?????  What do you do:  "I want to go to the building, beside the other building, that has a shop across the road"

If you don`t know the name of a premises??

Its good both you, and Bosco, still hold them, as a culture, in high regards, as a safe, and respectable country.

These are the sort of places I want to go to, along with their quirky nature.